Red Demons Roll to Big Win Over Wichita Southeast 53-12
Dodge City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The night began on the anniversary of 9/11 with a football field length American flag, but for the Dodge City Red Demons it was their ability to shorten the field that made the difference in beating Wichita Southeast 53-12. Dodge City wins their home opener improving to 1-1, while former Dodge City Head Coach Mike Shartz in his first year leading the Golden Buffaloes falls to 0-2.
Highlights
Dodge City Head Coach Dave Foster wants to be efficient on both sides of the ball, but it was the special teams that sparked the team. Eric Reid came through to block Jamarry Walker’s punt deep in Golden Buffaloes territory after Wichita Southeast went three and out on their first offensive series. That mistake was one of two blocked punts of Walker on the night. Tylor Garcia followed with a seven yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 Red Demons.
Trick plays also played a part in keeping The Golden Buffaloes off balance. Beginning on the plus side of the fifty for their second drive Dayton McGroarty had a chance to show off his passing arm in targeting a pass from a reverse handoff and firing to Payson Hatfield (Jr) making it 14-0 Dodge City.
The only blemish of the night for Dodge City came on the next series for Wichita South midway through the first quarter. Ira Hines rushed for a 69 yard touchdown, his third rushing score of the year gashing the Red Demons base defense after they attempted a blitz. The Golden Buffaloes failed on the extra point, Dodge City held on to a 14-6 lead. Little did Wichita Southeast realize it, but they would not score again until 3:41 left in the game.
The Dodge City offense had much more tempo in this game. Going with their no-huddle approach, Dodge scored the next 39 consecutive points. The Red Demons had 36 points at the end of the first quarter and hit 50 by half. Red Demon senior quarterback Caden Walters rushed for a pair of touchdowns over the last four and a half minutes of the first quarter sandwiched in between Tyler Trent’s second rushing touchdown of the year capping off scoring in the first quarter.
Although scoring quickly became the central theme of the first twelve minutes, Dodge City using the no-huddle was more methodical during the second quarter. There were still big plays including Eric Reid making a falling reception on his back for a touchdown of 41 yards with 10:42 remaining before half. Five minutes later on Dodge City’s longest scoring drive of the night, Dayton McGroarty who threw a touchdown back in the first quarter on a trick play, received a pass of 30 yards for a touchdown from Walters.
Tyler Trent led the Red Demons rushing attack carrying the ball 16 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Dawson Williams relieved Walters at QB to begin the second half and rushed 13 times for 48 yards leading to a 35 yard field goal from McGroarty for the Red Demons only points of the second half. Walters went 8 of 12 for 150 yards and two touchdowns all in the first half before being relieved.
Ira Hines had 13 carries for 79 yards, 69 of his total came on one play when he rushed for the touchdown midway through the first quarter for the Golden Buffaloes. Neither
Southeast quarterback Tyrik Atkins or Travon McInnis did much. McInnis did connect with Cameron Bond for a 20 yard touchdown in the final minutes.
Dodge City travels to rival Wichita Heights next Friday night, a team that beat the Red Demons with a ninety yard scoring drive in the game’s final moments last year 26-21. It will be the final contest before Dodge City opens up WAC play the following week against Liberal.
Coach Dave Foster’s Post Game Comments
